La Cañada burglaries rise in August

Silversparre warns of trend toward daytime thefts.

After two months in decline, reported burglaries in La Cañada Flintridge rose to 11 in August. The monthly average in 2012 is about nine.

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. David Silversparre informed the City Council on Monday that detectives are working those cases.

“We have developed some DNA and fingerprint evidence. I don’t want to say more than that,” he said. “But I expect we will bring in more suspects soon.”

Silversparre also said high-quality security camera footage is playing a role in helping the department close in on the person who robbed the UPS Store on Foothill Boulevard with a handgun on Aug. 22.

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Silversparre said that of the eight residential burglaries in August, several were break-and-enters and one was a distraction burglary where multiple suspects pretended to be tree trimmers working on a neighboring home.

“The only commonality of the burglaries reported most recently is that they’ve been daytime burglaries,” he said. “If people are home during the daytime, please watch out for your neighbors and report any suspicious activity you see to us.”

So far this year, La Cañada has seen 75 burglaries, compared to 51 at this point last year and 59 at this time in 2010. Overall felony crimes were up to 24 in August from 15 in July, and are at 212 on the year, compared to 202 in August 2011 and 235 in August 2010.

Silversparre told the council that with schools back in session, the department is reemphasizing a traffic safety program that allows residents to make anonymous tips about unsafe or illegal driving they witness to (818) 957-6132. Deputies will then follow up with “non-punitive” contact with the offending party, Silversparre said.

Silversparre also said the station has acquired an automatic license plate reader, which other cities have used to spot stolen cars and wanted suspects.

The department is seeking to spread awareness of the Crime Stoppers program, which allows tipsters to pass along information while maintaining anonymity.

Silversparre said the Crescenta Valley station made an arrest for heroin possession earlier this summer thanks to a tip from Crime Stoppers. Residents with a tip can visit www.lacrimestoppers.org, text “TIPLA” to 274637 or call (800) 222-8477.